School Bus Drivers Inservice TITLE OF LESSON: OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS CAN GET YOU BUSTED

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1 School Bus Drivers Inservice TITLE OF LESSON: OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS CAN GET YOU BUSTED Objectives of Lesson: At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to: Identify some over-the-counter medications that could impair their driving abilities. List three symptoms that could impair a driver s ability to drive. Equipment for Lesson: Computer and projector Overhead projector TV and DVD player DVD Drivers Alert Over the Counter Drugs Screen Introduction: Slide 1 For most people, driving represents freedom, control and independence. Driving enables most people to get to the places they want or need to go. For us as school bus drivers, it is our job to get students to and from school safely every day. Driving is a complex skill. Our ability to drive safely can be determined by changes in our physical, emotional and mental conditions, and these conditions may be affected by over the counter and prescription drugs and medications. Presentation: Slide 2 A. What is Drugged Driving? Drug driving describes anyone who drives under the influence of a substance, which affects his or her ability to drive. The detrimental influence of alcohol on the ability to drive safely is proven. Drugs (both Lesson Plan 1 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted

2 illegal and prescribed) now are being recognized as a problem as well. Drugs affect the way you think and behave and this can have a significant impact on judgment and reaction times. Drugged driving is a public health concern because it puts not only the driver at risk, but also the passengers and others who share the road. B. Get the Right Advice Your Meds and Driving may not Mix Slide 3 People use medicines for a variety of reasons. They use them to treat allergies, anxiety, arthritis, cold and flu symptoms, depression, pain relief, cholesterol and many other symptoms. Medications can be obtained by a prescription from a doctor or from overthe-counter medications. Many people also take dietary supplements or herbal remedies that also can impair their driving abilities. You should always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the drugs you are taking and how they can affect your driving. Always follow the recommended dose, read the information provided with your medication and never take someone else s medications. Slide 4 These medicines or supplements may cause a variety of reactions that may make it difficult for you to drive a school bus safely. Slide 5 Taking sedating antidepressants even ten hours before driving is equal to driving drunk. Slide 6 Antihistamines which block allergic reactions slow down reaction time, impairs coordination and causes drowsiness. (A few examples of these medicines are - Chlorpheniramine, Diphendydramine, Promethazine, Triprolidine) Slide 7 Over-the-counter decongestants can cause drowsiness, anxiety, and dizziness. Drowsy driving is responsible for an estimated 100,000 traffic crashes and about 1,500 deaths every year, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Lesson Plan 2 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted

3 Slide 8 Over-the-counter drugs such as; cold and cough medicines, antihistamines, drugs used to prevent nausea or motion sickness, pain relievers, decongestants, diuretics can cause drowsiness that can impair a driver s motor skills and reflexes. Some drugs may make you feel alert and confident in your driving. In reality the situation may be quite different. Drugs can fool you into believing you are in control of your driving when you are, in fact, impaired. Slide 9 Have you just taken an over-the-counter drug for your cold? Did you read the label to see if there are any side effects, such as drowsiness? Should you think twice before driving while on ANY medication? Should you report to your employer? The answer is YES. Antihistamines and a variety of other medications can affect the mental and physical skills needed for safe driving even some over-the-counter medicines can affect driving. The effects of a drug vary significantly from one individual to the next, and may even vary in the same individual at different times. The driver s age, weight, emotional state, the amount of the drug and when it was taken, are all factors which influence the ability to drive safely. Slide 10 University of Iowa Researchers who tested allergy sufferers in a driving simulator found that antihistamine diphenhydramine (found in many allergy and sleep medications. i.e. Bendadryl, Nytol, and Sominex) significantly impaired a driver s ability to focus on steering and maintain the correct lane. The study showed that diphenhydramine has a more significant impact on driving performance than alcohol does. Researchers also stated that out of the 39 million Americans who suffer from hay fever and allergies, only 4.8 million take prescription medications. The remainder either goes without treatment or takes over-the-counter medications. These medications may be effective, but they often come with warnings stating drowsiness may occur and use caution when driving a motor vehicle or heavy machinery. When people take cold medications or a pill to ease their headache, they often do not realize that the medication has an effect on their cognitive and Lesson Plan 3 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted

4 motor abilities. It doesn t usually cross a person s mind that they are taking a drug that could cause them to be impaired. Drugs impair our bodies in a variety of ways. Slide 11 Trainer Note: Group Discussion. Can you name some impairment? (2 5 minutes.) Blurred vision. Slide 12 Excitable. Alter depth perception. See or hear things. Raise or lower blood pressure. Sleepy. Dizzy. Fainting. Slide 13 Nauseated. Effect reaction times. Concentration. When our brain function is altered, our muscles and nerve functions changes. Don t assume you can drive. Slide 14 Yes, most people can drive safely when using medications. It depends on the effects that either prescription or over-the-counter medications have on your driving. In some cases, you may not even be aware of the effects. That s why it is important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects and let them know if you using any over-the-counter medicines or herbal supplements, which could also cause a reaction when used with other medications. Always read the Consumer Medication Information sheet (CMI) that is provided with your new medications. If you have any questions, don t hesitate to ask. A sample CMI is included in this lesson plan. H Lesson Plan 4 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted

5 Monitor yourself. Slide 15 Know your body reactions. Keep track of how you feel on new medications. Slide 16 Medications can have a positive or negative effect on your driving ability. Drugs that slow you down also reduce your ability to make decisions and process information rapidly (which is critical for bus drivers). Even over-the-counter drugs can reduce driving ability. Antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Alavert): o Drowsiness. o Poor concentration. o Delayed reaction time. Slide 17 Cold Remedies (Cold Tablets, Cough Syrup, NyQuil): o Dizziness. o Sleeplessness. o Nausea. All can reduce driving ability. Combinations of drugs can produce unexpected side effects and bad reactions. Impaired driving, whether it s due to medications, alcohol, or a combination of is not only dangerous and socially unacceptable; it is also a criminal offense. Slide 18 RCW Driving under the influence. (1) A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within this state. Slide 19 The following is an outline of some different types of drugs and how they can affect your driving Lesson Plan 5 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted

6 Slide 20 Stimulants speed up your brain and body. Common stimulants include: Slimming Pills. Some cold and flu medication and decongestants which contain substance such as pseudoephedrine (i.e., Sudafed, Benadryl, Codral, Tylenol Cold and Flu). Slide 21 These can affect driving ability by causing impaired co-ordination, aggressiveness, hyperactivity, hallucinations, blurred vision, dizziness and fainting or feeling fatigued. Slide 22 Depressants can slow down the brain and body. Common depressants include: Cough Mixtures (i.e., Benadryl Original). Allergy Medications (i.e., Actifed). Anti depressants. Antihistamines (i.e., Actifed). Slide 23 These can affect your driving ability by causing impaired co-ordination, impaired reaction time, impaired alertness, memory loss, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and tremors. Slide 24 Extra care should also be taken with medications used to treat: Sleeping Difficulties. Anxiety, Depression and Stress. Allergies and Hay Fever. Arthritis. Blood Pressure. Fluid Retention. Nausea. Slide 25 Stomach Problems. Diabetes. Herbal or naturopathic remedies. Slide Lesson Plan 6 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted

7 Herbal or naturopathic remedies are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Labels for these remedies usually list the desired affects, not the effects that they will have on an individual. The label will note in fine print that this product is not certified by the FDA. Slide 27 Before using any herbal supplement, you need to do your homework. Ask yourself these questions: Has the manufacturer done research on this specific product? Does this product make outrageous claims? Avoid any product that makes promises no product can possibly live up to. Slide 28 There are no herbal cures, fountains of youth, or weight loss miracles. Remember the old adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Does the label warn of any possible side effects? Does the product give you clear dosage instructions? Slide 29 To list a few common herbal supplements like St. John s Wort, Passionflower or Melatonin. If you were to look these up and read about their effects, you would think twice before taking them. St. John s Wort has been known to be used for depression. If you eat certain type foods (chocolate, wine, yogurt, salami, smoked or pickled foods) or use certain types of medicines (cold and hay fever pills, diet pills, nasal decongestants) the chemical reaction could cause high blood pressure and nausea. Slide 30 Passionflower used to encourage sleep. Can cause the risk of bleeding when used in combination with oral anticoagulant therapy. (Warfin/Coumadin) Slide 31 Melatonin used for sleep problems. Can cause confusion, problems sleeping, seizures and headaches Lesson Plan 7 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted

8 Slide 32 Salvia this leafy herb traditionally it has been ingested by chewing fresh leaves or by drinking the extracted juices. Dried leaves can also be smoked The effects can appear in less than one minute and last less than 30 minutes The effects are intense, they can experience hallucinations or delusional episodes. Slide 33 The consequences associated with driving under the influence of drugs are much the same as those associated with driving alcohol impaired. It will cost large amounts of money as well as time, embarrassment, possible injury and even death. Besides that, it affects not just the person making the decision to drive impaired, but all of those who become involved when a situation happens. The risks are not worth it. The police are now trained to recognize the signs of drug use and carry out roadside tests of impairment to help them decide whether to arrest you if they think you are unfit to drive as a result of drugs in your system. Slide 34 Show Video: Drivers Alert Over the Counter Drugs (13 minutes). Slide 35 SUMMARY: To avoid harming yourself and others, talk with your physician and pharmacist and learn about the information regarding your medication s side effects, and what drugs are considered safe to combine, especially when you are behind the wheel of any vehicle. Never take more than the prescribed dose, or take anyone else s medicine. Ask for non-sedating forms of your prescription when you know you need to be behind the wheel. Allow your body time to adjust to new medications before you drive. Most importantly, it is up to you to take the responsibility for knowing the signs and symptoms of being drug impaired before you get behind the wheel of any vehicle. Don t doctor yourself with over-the-counter or herbal remedies, seek a professional Lesson Plan 8 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted

9 Slide 36 Evaluation: Slides 37 & Identify some over-the-counter medications that could impair your driving abilities. Answer: Slimming Pills; Cold and Flu Medications; Antihistamines; Allergy Medications; Sleeping Medication. 2. List three symptoms that could impair your driving ability. Answer: Drowsiness; Dizziness; Blurred Vision; Nausea; Fatigue. References: Citizens against Drug Impaired Drivers. Retrieved on Feb. 4, 2004, from the World Wide Web: Health Plus. Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Retrieved on Feb. 3, 2004, from the World Wide Web: Criminal Law, Drunk Driving, WA DUI. From the World Wide Web: Personal Health Zone. Resources/Health News. From the World Wide Web: NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse). From the World Wide Web: Lesson Plan 9 Over the Counter Drugs Can Get you Busted